36 Small Kitchen Ideas – Small Kitchen Design Inspiration

Never leave corners unaccounted for. An integrated bench and modest bistro table can create an informal dining nook that can be used for leisurely breakfasts as it can for home working. The wall lamps help to delineate it as its own little pocket, and some simple upholstery and cushions add some much-needed comfort.

Pictured: Suffolk Kitchen at Neptune, designed by Nigel Hunt, Head of Design at Studio Huntreay

In a small space, you can afford to be bold with colour. There are few shades that can match the energy of a bright green, and the cream-coloured walls and antiqued splashback temper its vibrancy. The sweet arrangement of accessories makes a case for mixing decorative touches among the kitchenware.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by John Lewis of Hungerford

This vintage kitchen renovation is a lesson in decorating to scale, with irresistibly tiny pendants, wall art, and dollhouse accessories. Unfussy Shaker cabinets are softened with a frothy cafe curtain, and the warm glow of a table lamp is sympathetic to dark and poky corners.

See the rest of this vintage kitchen renovation

If you’re a fan of a feature wall or feature colour, but tentative about using too much eye-catching colour in a small space, go for a feature appliance instead. This will afford you a pop of colour without feeling overpowering.

Pictured: Limehouse Kitchen at Neptune

Galley kitchens do well with a run of wall cabinets, but all that bulkiness can overpower a small space. Glass fronts feel much lighter, diffusing the intensity of colour overhead and revealing an artful mix of kitchenware inside. The mismatch of uppers and lowers feels relaxed and a little less formal than the usual coordinating sets.

Small spaces shouldn’t necessarily mean paring back your design personality. Fewer pieces and minimal decoration will create a more open environment, but kitchens are often so functional that they require a bit of character to soften them. If you are really stretched for space, adding colour to your surfaces is the best way to achieve this.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by Olive & Barr

Leave it to an antiques dealer to master the mix of old and new. The neat uniformity of the fitted cupboards (these are by Pluck), is offset with an old kitchen island and a collection of well-worn things. The ruddy chalk wash on the walls adds further texture and warmth, and the pendant light is like a fabulous disco ball in the middle of it all.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Pluck

Don’t disregard your dream kitchen features just because space is tight, just scale everything down. This diminutive bar area takes up the tiniest footprint, but it could be made even smaller with a freestanding trolley that could be rolled in and out of a kitchen on a whim. See the rest of this vibrant Victorian terrace here.

Pictured: Kitchen designed by Oakley Moore

‘Open shelving encourages a tidy space because items are on show,’ says Tom Howley, design director of the eponymous kitchen company. ‘It’s a great opportunity to display treasured pottery or copperware instead of hiding them away behind closed doors. Arrange glass jars containing dried goods or exotic spices in size order on an open shelf for a practically stylish pinch of colour. Open shelving helps light flow through and can make a kitchen look bigger. It’s a great kitchen storage alternative if space is at a premium as shelves make smaller spaces feel less cramped.’

Pictured: Laura Jackson Café Flore paint at COAT

The more layers you can squeeze into a small space, the more inviting it will be. Designer India Holmes does this in spades with an imaginative mix of cabinetry and tongue and groove panelling, veined marble surfaces and wallpaper that mimics the intricate motifs of Portuguese tiles. Stacks of plates overhead and little hooks for mugs free up countertops, and a rug adds a decorative flourish underfoot.

Pictured: Kitchen designed by India Holmes. Rici Rug in Jay at Pelican House

Play to the limitations of a light-starved kitchen and meet dark with dark. The trick to pulling it all off is to concentrate the drama to your cabinets and go light on walls and floors. Avoid white in this instance as the contrast can be too stark and lean instead on a warming mix of pink and terracotta. If you’re brave enough to go for black cabinetry, accent with light-reflecting brass hardware.

Pictured: Kitchen design by Charli Howard. Marrakesh Hessian Bejmat Tiles at Bert & May

While tempting to fill a small space with as much storage as possible, floor-to-ceiling cupboards can be totally imposing if overused. Combining a section of tall cupboards with floor and wall units creates varied storage options and breaks everything up.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Pluck